Nasal and aural speculum



Aug. 27, 1935. w. J. CAMERON NASAL AND AURAL SPECULUM Filed June 15, 1934 Patented Aug. 27; 1 935 access tothe inner membrane, tissues and other. physicalfjormations for inspection and treatment.

In this connectionthe speoula jaws move to? wards and away from each other in parallel x s aoiase'z fjf a a NAsAn ANDiAuRALsrEoULUM i m caew Qhi 115 1" I Application June; 193 1Q-Sefia nois 30bit- The surgical instrument which I have devised isa speculum such as is utilized. in inspecting, diagnosing, operating upon, and'treat ing the nasal, aural and-other cavities. I-have provided medevice with instrumentalities, so

that it may beinsert'ed into a cavity 'and by moving a control lever the jaws of the speculum maybe opened to dilate the cavity" to permit ratchet mechanism associated with the operat-' ing lever whereby said lever may be moved backward and forward withratcheting action or the pawl may be released to, permit iree movement oi the lever withoutratcheting action.

' The specula jaws or members are'automatically normally'closed or retracted position, and provide jointly a walled passageway of conical or tapered formation. Novel means are also provided for. removably mounting the;

specula members on suitable pivoted armswhere by such members may be readily, dismounted for; cleansing and sterilizing. Numerous other advantages w'l be apparent to persons' skilled in the art a'fter my invention is understood.- I fAmong the objects 'oi my invention are thef provision pf an instrument of the kind described that is novel in construction; economicalto manu-jj facture, compact in arrangement and is dependa ble in periorming the functions it may hecalled upon to do. I prefer to" accomplish the-foregoing objects and to carry out my invention" in sub-" stantially the [manner hereinafter described and as p rticularly pointed out in the claims; reference being' herein made totheaccompanying drawing that forms a part of this specification, in whichdrawing, V a

Fig; is a front elevation of. my improved surgical instrument showing the structure opened and with' one pithe specula members," in dotted lines, being dismounted.

Fig. 2 is'a view similar ,to Fig. lion an "e xagg lfated scale showin the devicefclosed'.

Fig. 3 is aback view of afra-gmental portion of the instrument.

Figs. 5 and 6 are detail views, also enlarged showing different relative positions of'thefpawl and ratchet mechanism.

, Ihemo'unting structure of theinstrumentcons'istsof ahollow'ortubular stub!!! that pro- J pam. (o1.

relation. I have'providedfa suitable pawl and,

' lower end of Figfil is a top plan eta-portion of the structure:

. vided with a bayonet-slot llfextending' inwardly from it'sjlo'w'e'r edge to coact with a lateral pin I 2: upon the upper end portion of a handle-member shown) movable upon "the exterior :of thehandle. Any' suitable connection withanelectrie current pin and slot permits the head portion ofthe in befretracted -into 'thehandle whereit Willib out maybe made =atthe'lower end of the handle mot shown) and'electric conductors extend from the the handle to the retractable socket l tare'mountedupon which' the'bulb is mounted;

The" parts of the instrumen and'carried by the" hollow fstub HI 'upon -,the -ext'erior wall therof'opbbsitetlie'bayonet -slot. In-

hollow' casting l6, the' frontor outer portion of laterally from one of its walls and flush or in the same plane as the-outer edges o f the side walls' te'gralwiththe stub there isa triangularshaped of the casting I 6. This flange has a segmentally sliapededge that is serrated to provide ratchet teeth l8 and the curve of this-edge is an arc of a circle struck from theaxis of the pivot forthe swinginglever' that carries the co-acting pawl as will "later-be described. There is a fiat flange Y [9 on the s'i'deof the box -like casting oppositethe ratchet fiangeyand said flanges together with theouteredgesbfthe walls-of the casting- IG being'all'in the same-plane, provideaflat orplane area upon which the or be moved. l s

A pairof fsickle shaped arms are: movably mounted u on "the lsn'iooth 'shank portion of a headed "pivotserew fll"that is "screwed into a." threaded "holelat the 1 lower or' apex end of the casting "I 6 ,such shankpass'ing through theSuperposed or overlapped lower ends-of the straight portions "21 'of'the arms. i

j awcarryingI-arms may rest a One of thearmshas an off-set portion; (as at 21) so thea'rms lie in the same planeagainst the plane area above mentioned, and-in" order to 'maint'ain said arms normally adjacent or moved towards each otherl provide a spring-22 ,that' has its intermediate portion coiledjabout the screw 20 'withinFthe box-like casting l6 and the straight-end *portionsoffwhich spring cross each other and bear against lateral pins 23 on the respective arms, as seen in Fig. 3. v

' The upper portions 24 of the arms are segmental or crescent shaped the curvatures of the slot 26. In {order to remove the member the sol;

which are disposed so that when they are in normal position the two portions .24 jointly provide substantially a two part circle or split ring. These segmental portions 24 removably carry the specula members. or split cone of the instrument, and to this end the outeredges of. the

, segmentlsl24 atmidway'their length areprovided with shoulders 25 that have slots 26 at their inner corners that terminate in narrow slits '21 so that spring lugs 28 are thereby pro vided on diametrically opposite sides of s'egmental portions of the sickle-shaped arms.

Nasal, aural andsimilar specula ar'e'iusually' of a hollow tapered or conical shapeibutinstead;

of using an integral hollow cone I splitthe cone axially to provide two semi-conical members 29.

*pi'I'he widerearportions of thesemembersvjoint- 157 form. a" cylmdri'cal; base, and "have small ears 30Jdiametrically opposite each otherflthat pro ject radially; therefrom; Annularphannels 3| are made; inzthese; base. portions, and transversely.

through the, ears, -:such 1 channels :being of a depth and width ,to readily. receive the segmental or curved portions .24 .of the arms. ,.;Sm'all 'crosspins 32 aredriveninto thefears-so that they bridge the channels and. are; in position to pass under the. spring lugs '28 by. entering-the 'slots 26,: and frictionally"engage the wallsgof-flsaid' slots.. Tomount a semi-conical speculamernber onv an arm, the channelin thebase of. such member .on'fone side of thelug and cross pin-is engaged with the upper end, of A the segmental portion of the arm.1:;The memberis-then given a rotative movement causing the pin, to ridepover the. outer edge of segment {until the pin reaches the spring lug 28 where it is; pushed ,or forced'into foregoing, operation is reversed In order to-movethe-arms away "from each other against theactionof the spring'ZZ Ihave providedsuitable cam means actuated byaleven that preferably carries 1 the pawl andassociated" mechanism cooperating with: the ratchet teeth; {8. The-lever is an elongated bar .33 fulcrumedatone end on the shank of a wide-headed screw that is threaded'into-a holein the support and. disposed between the adjacent-edges of'the' straight portions of the sickle-shaped .armsm 1 At its fulcrumed portion the lever bar 33is;

provided with 'a wide enlargement 35. so;:that it spreads over qllite an-areaof the armsZ I;=against which jthe enlargement rests, and by this; en

gagement with the surface of the arms by; the

lever; enlargementsaid arms are maintained in operative position but may be readily moved as desired.

The, lever 33; extends across and beyond the arms and has its free outer endgportion provided with an L shap'ed backward or .reverse bend or flange 33 '(Fig.;4 );that provides;a;housing and j guidefo r a pawl device 36that is inthe formof a rectangular ;;bloc l; slidablyzfmounted .in the guide formed between the L-shaped 'flangej33 and the adjacentbody portion of lever 33. The parallel portions of :the' flange' and lever are; prog1 vided witlralininglongitudinally extending. slots 38 and, a headed guide-pin 39 is drivenjthrough these slots and the pawl block;' -36 :with its .un-

headed end projecting a suitable distance beyond the rear surface of the longer-armof;flange33e.

i Th reedsfihea wlz loqk h a e e o;

. the pawl guide pin 39 protrudes. j. .'Ihe edge of the cut-away portion nearest the pin 39 is preferably a straight edge that is obliquely disposed with respect to the pin and at ,the .upper inner corner, or upper end of the straight edge 45 there is an off-set recess 46 to permit free movement of the pin in the guide slots 38 when the lever 33 is moved downwardly to. open the jaws or specula members. To ratchet the lever in, an upward or reverse direction, the 'thumb-pieceiis swung upwardly .on its pivot causing thestraight edge,4 5 to actas ancam against the pinp39 to move it slightly'outwardlyg andcontinued upward pressure on .the thumbpieceywill cause the pawl to ride successively over the ratchet-teeth l8 ;while the-spring 22 will drawthe sickle-shaped arms towards each other ;H v I ,i v ,i Q

, Occasionally, it maybe found desirable to open and close the armsand specula members without ratcheting and to. thisend I provide a pawl throw-o'fi thatiis adapted :to release the pawl in any oflthe respective positions of the lever arm 33.,

Asmall irregular-shaped-plate 4! has a;ta pered end portion that is pivotally mounted on screw 44 outsidethe thumb-piece 42-. This throw off plate provided with an upstanding lug 48 bywhich it may be manually swung on its pivot and above thelug there, are preferably two recesses 4.9 and 50, the latterof which is-of such depth that it does-not engagethe pin39 of the pawl while, the other recess 49 i acts as a holder so that when the throw-o it plate is moved downwardlyvthe pin will seat in such recess and hold the pawl out 0f engagement withithe ratchetteeth. In. the event the jaws have been opened, utilizing the-ratchet mechanism, and thereafter it .is desiredto quickly closethe jaws, the opperator need only-push downwardly on the lug 4,8 which will causethe pin to ride over. the hump 5| between the recess and seat in the upper recess,

thereby releasing. the pawl from the ratchet teeth and 'permittingthe jaws to close by the actionvofthe spring 22. v T

WhatIclaimisa- 1. A surgical .instmment comprising a support.

arms mountedthereon for movement toward and away from each other, cooperatingspecula blades carried by said'arms, a swinging lever fulcrumed on said support, means embodying a cam actuated by said lever for moving said, arms to separate said blades, a pawl and ratchet device controlling the movementof said lever, and

means .for releasing said device whereby to permit free movement of saidlever, i

2. A, surgical instrument comprising a support, a pair of arms pivoted thereongspecula blades having channels in their base portions to receive portions of said arms, cross-members "bridging said channels, and segmental extensions projecting from-said arms which: extensions are inserted in said channelsback of said cross members.

3. Afsurgical instrument comprising a support,

arms pivoted thereon for movement towards and away from each other, co-acting speculablades carried by said arms, a swinging lever 'iulcrumed on said support and extending across said arms between said blades and the pivot of said arms,

means embodying a cam actuated by said lever for movingsaid arms to separate said blades,

and a pawl and ratchet device interposed between said support and said lever.

4. A surgical instrument comprising a support, arms pivoted thereon for movement towards and I away from each other, co-acting speculablades carriedby saidarms, a swinging lever fulcrumed on said support and extending across said arms between said blades and the pivot of said arms,

means embodying a cam carrledby said lever and disposed between said arms for moving the latter to separate said blades, and a pawl and Y ratchet device interposed between said support and said lever.

5. A surgical instrument comprising a support, having a plane area, flat arms pivoted adjacent their ends on said support and movable towards and from each other on said plane area, a flat lever fulcrumed intermediate its ends on said support and extendingacross said arms to main tain said arms against lateral. movement, a pawl and ratchet device co-acting with said support and said lever, and oppositely shaped specula. blades mounted on the free endportions of said arms I movable arms fulcrumed thereon, segmental extensions on said arms, semi-conical members carried by said extensions and having cylindrical base portions provided with annular channelsinto which said segmental extensions are removably inserted, and retainer pins disposed across said channels and engagedwith adjacent portions of i on said support a portion of each element be ing shaped to forma curved seat, said elements having open slots intermediate their ends, ahollow longitudinally split cone these'ctions of which are removably mounted on saidseats, and trans- I verse pins onsaid cone sections that enter said slots to maintain said sections in position.

9. A surgical instrument comprising a support, elongated elements fulcrumed at their lower ends ,onsaid. support a portion of each element being shapedto form a seat, said elements having open slots intermediate their ends, a hollow longitue dinally split cone the sections of which are removably mounted on said seats, thebases of said cone sections being provided with annular channels to receive the portions of said elongated elements forming said seats, and pins disposed transversely across said channels and engaged in said slots to removably'retainsaid sections in position. 1 v

10. A surgical instrument comprising a support,

6. surgical instrument comprising a support,

a cam interposed between said a pair of sickle-shaped amis pivoted at their lower ends on said supporfla split cone mounted 1 on the curved portions of said armameans' em? bodyinga cam' interposed between the straight] portions of said arms, alever connected-to said cam means for'operating the same to move the lateral pin, a thumb plate pivoted'on said lever and having a portion movable into and out of.

engagement with said pin, and a pawl release device adapted to engage and move said pin to arms, pawl and ratchet, devices respectively on" said lever and said support, said pawlhavinga maintain the pawl out of engagement with said ratchet. Y

11. A surgical instrument comprising a sup port, oppositely disposed specula -members haveach other and in closed position adapted to form a passageway, and means for moving said specula members towards "and away from each other in substantially parallel relation, said means including a pivotally mounted lever.

12. A surgical instrument comprising a support, arms-pivotally mounted on said support, oppositely' disposed specula members carried by the respective arms, said members movable towards and away from each other and inclosedposi-v tion forming a passageway, a lever fulcrumed on said support, and meansemb-odying' a cam. assoe ciatediwith said lever and arms whereby move- 1 ment of the lever moves said speculamembers with respect'to each other in substantially parallel relation. Y

13. A surgical instrument comp-rising aisuping pivotal connection with said support, said I members being movable towards andawayfrom port, arms pivotally mounted on said support, a

yieldable means urging said arms normally towards each other, semi-conical specula members removably mounted onsaid arms, said members movable towards and away from each other and in closed position forming a passageway, a lever fulcrumed' on saidpsupport, and means embodying a cam associated with said lever and arms for operating the latter when saidlever is moved. 1 l4. A surgical instrument comprising a support, arms pivotally mounted on said support,

yieldable means urging said arms normallyto- -wards each other,-semi-conical specula mem-- bers removably mounted on said arms, said mom'- bersmovable towards and away from each other and in closed position forming apassageway, a

lever fulcrumed on said support, a pawl .andg ratchet device controlling said lever, 'ath'row-ofistructure for disengaging the I pawl from the ratchet,.and cam means associated with said lever i and arms for operating the latter when saidlever is moved.

15. 'A surgical instrument comprising a supporthaving a flat surface portion, arms pivoted. f a on said support and having flattened portions en-' gaged with said fiat surface, a reciprocable lever fulcrumed on said support and having a flat enlargement engaging said arms on the facethereof opposite the flat surface of thesupport where I by said arms are maintained and moved in edge, alinement with each other, operatin blades actuated by said arms, and means embodying for moving the latter.

arms and lever 7 WILLIAM J. "CAMERON. 

